BOOST American Business Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 9062
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- International Affairs
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-05-29: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-10T08:07:28Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose This legislation seeks to strengthen U.S. commercial diplomacy by creating a specialized service within the Department of State to assist American businesses in overseas markets, protect industries from foreign competitors, and integrate trade support into broader foreign policy efforts. It responds to perceived reductions in related programs at the Department of Commerce.
Key Provisions
- Establishes a Commercial Diplomatic Service as a distinct career track within the Foreign Service, targeting 750 officers by 2028, with recruitment focused on business analysis, contract negotiation, and cross-cultural skills.
- Creates the position of Director General of the Foreign and Commercial Diplomatic Services (Assistant Secretary level), reporting to the Under Secretary for Management, with deputies for general Foreign Service officers and the new commercial service.
- Requires assignments only to designated commercial diplomacy positions, coordination with the Department of Commerce to avoid duplication, and an application process for current Foreign Service members to transfer.
- Mandates specialized training on commercial advocacy, market access barriers, intellectual property, interagency resources (such as the Export-Import Bank), and business intelligence.
- Grants the Director General temporary direct-hire authority for 10 years and allows contracting for services without standard federal hiring rules.
- Defines commercial diplomacy to include export promotion, investment advocacy, supply chain resilience, and coordination with state/local agencies.
Significant Changes to Existing Law The bill amends the Foreign Service Act of 1980 by replacing sections on the Director General (section 208) and Foreign Service composition (section 303), and updating assignment (sections 501 and 502), training (sections 703 and 708), and contracting (section 1005) rules. It shifts primary responsibility for commercial diplomacy from the Department of Commerce's Foreign Commercial Service to the Department of State, while preserving coordination requirements.
Potential Impacts
- Government agencies: Expands the Department of State's role in economic affairs and may reduce the size or scope of Commerce's Global Markets unit; requires interagency coordination with entities like the Export-Import Bank and U.S. International Development Finance Corporation.
- Citizens and businesses: Provides U.S. companies, especially in strategic sectors, with dedicated on-the-ground support for exports, contracts, and investment disputes abroad.
- International relations: Strengthens U.S. economic diplomacy at diplomatic posts, potentially improving competitiveness in foreign markets and aligning trade policy with national security goals.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Department of State (including Foreign Service officers and the Foreign Service Institute).
- Department of Commerce and its Foreign Commercial Service.
- U.S. businesses seeking overseas opportunities.
- Congressional committees on foreign affairs and appropriations.
- Other federal agencies involved in export financing and development.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The bill involves Senate-confirmed presidential appointments and modifies existing statutory frameworks for the Foreign Service, raising questions about the division of executive branch responsibilities between State and Commerce. It reflects a policy emphasis on economic security as part of national security, consistent with recent executive orders on foreign service reform, but does not alter constitutional separation of powers.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (3)
Rep. McCaul, Michael T. [R-TX-10], Rep. Mackenzie, Ryan [R-PA-7], Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]
Recent Actions
- 2026-05-29: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
- 2026-05-29: Introduced in House
- 2026-05-29: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Building Opportunities Overseas to Strengthen and Train American Business Act — issued 2026-05-29 — PDF (21 pages)